Feral Cats

Feral cats (Felis catus)

Feral Cats are wild-living variant of the common pet cat, introduced to Hawai‘i by Europeans. Feral cats have established populations on all eight of the main Hawaiian Islands and contribute to widespread ecological disruptions that threaten native Hawaiian wildlife. Feral cats are one of the most devastating predators of Hawai‘i’s unique wildlife. In addition to direct predation, feral cats also spread a potentially lethal parasite (Toxoplasma gondii) that contaminates terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments and has been shown to negatively impact birds and mammals – including humans.

A feral cat at Honouliuli (Oahu) with a dead Hawaiian coot (federally listed endangered species). This cat has a notched ear, indicating that it is part of a managed colony. Credit: Michael Walther

Description

Feral cats are identical to the common pet cat and are actually the same species separated only by lifestyle and behavior. Feral cats may utilize human resources or live completely independently and can be found in all types of habitat, including free-ranging in the mauka lands.

Required host for the parasite Toxoplasma gondii to complete its life cycle. A single cat may excrete hundreds of millions of infectious eggs into the environment through its feces. Humans, especially pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems, are vulnerable to infection by this parasite.

Toxoplasmosis is an identified threat to the conservation of endangered species such as Nēnē (Hawaiian goose; Branta sandvicensis), ‘Alala (Hawaiian crow; Corvus hawaiiensis), and Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi).

Distribution

Widespread on all the Main Hawaiian Islands in all habitats

What you can do

Spay and neuter pet cats.

Keep cats indoors or safely contained.

Microchip pet cats so that you may be reunited if the cats should become lost.

Never abandon pet cats. If you are no longer able to care for your pet, please surrender the cat to a local animal shelter so that it has a chance of being adopted.